Opinions on Musicals from Someone Who Knows Nothing About Musicals

I just realized I’d never posted the follow-up to my musical month challenge. I did complete it successfully, and I also wrote up my disorganized thoughts on everything I watched/listened to. So, here they are!

 

1. 21 Chump Street (theater)

:’’’’’(((( This is musical is So Unfair. I am scarred. Thanks Lin-Manuel Miranda.

2. Grease (live)

So, I’d never seen Grease until Grease Live. I couldn’t actually watch it live, but we did start a free trial to hulu just to watch it. I enjoyed it! Especially the kid with the guitar.

3. Jesus Christ Superstar (concept album)

Technically blasphemy, maybe? But I liked the music. I also really liked the Martha/Judas parallels in that one song. That was good.

4. Fun Home (soundtrack)

Good!! Good!!!!! This and Hamilton were the only two soundtracks in that category of the Grammys I’d heard. And I love Hamilton, but I felt kinda bad that Fun Home had to go against it.

5. My Fair Lady (soundtrack)

I should have watched the movie because I had no idea what was going on here.

6. Pippin (soundtrack and theater performance)

I listened to the soundtrack first, but again, I had no idea what was happening. So, since I had some free time that day, I watched a performance that was on youtube. It ended up not being anything like what I expected, from just the soundtrack, but I really enjoyed it! Everyone should watch Pippin.

7. Hairspray (soundtrack)

I’ve seen the movie, but I wanted to listen to the Broadway soundtrack, too. It was good, and I enjoyed listening to the songs that weren’t in the movie. Tracy’s mom’s voice was really…jarring. But I guess that might have been the point? Maybe?? I don’t know.

8. Phantom of the Opera (movie)

Yeah, I’d actually never seen Phantom of the Opera before. I can’t believe he wasn’t actually a ghost…. I’ll admit I kinda made fun of it a lot while watching it, but I did enjoy it, and the music was good.

9. Heathers (theater)

I had noooo idea what I was getting into here. Apparently there’s a Heathers movie from the 80’s? Apparently that’s where that “I love my dead gay son” picture came from. Who would have thought. Anyway, Heathers is funny and the music is fun. I’m listening to Seventeen (reprise) on repeat at this very second. It made me feel a lot of things.

10. Newsies (movie)

Why did the girl kiss the main guy at the end? She was barely even in it. And he said “I already got a family” and looked right at her brother. Right at him. Why did he and the girl kiss…… Anyway, Newsies is really cute. I don’t know which one was Christian Bale, though.

11. The Lion King (Broadway soundtrack)

Good.

12. Matilda (theater)

Here’s the embarrassing part where I admit that I’ve never seen the entire Matilda movie, so I really didn’t know what I was getting into story-wise. But it was a pleasant surprise. Funny, good music. ((((And the stage engineering was so, so cool.))))

13. Camelot (theater)

I was actually really surprised at how much I enjoyed this. I would totally recommend Camelot to people. It was surprisingly funny, and the story was enjoyable. Also, since Hamilton’s Lafayette is described as “The Lancelot of the revolutionary set,” even briefly imagining Lafayette in Lancelot’s place is hilarious. (Does that make Washington King Arthur? Does Lafayette run off with Martha?)

14. The Book of Mormon (soundtrack)

I couldn’t find a working link for a performance of this, so. This is the only one where I followed what was happening using wikipedia’s plot summary. It was very helpful. I will never publicly admit to having listened to or liking this, just because of the kinds of people I spend time around, but. I did enjoy it.

15. Spring Awakening (theater)

See…. I keep seeing people gush about Deaf West’s production of this. So that’s what I watched. And I don’t exactly regret it, because it was really cool to watch, and the music was good. But I had no idea what the plot was, and there were times where I really had no idea what was going on. For instance. The boys on the piano? Who were they?? Where did they come from. They were funny, but ?? Anyway, again, it was really, really cool to watch, and I wish I could have seen this live.

16. Rent (movie)

I cried for a solid 15 minutes. My family was only a few feet away but luckily nobody noticed. I still went through some tissues though. This is a Great Movie.

17. The Last 5 Years (movie)

Kind of heartbreaking. Even though I got a little bit lost about 3/4ths of the way through and lost track of what went where. Still heartbreaking. Especially the very last scene, with him walking away and her being all happy? Dang.

18. How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (movie)

I keep saying this, I know, but I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this. I guess you don’t expect old things to be very funny, but this was. I don’t have a lot to say about the music, but overall it was entertaining to watch. I think my dad would like this movie.

19. Les Miserables (anniversary performance)

Having this on the list is really cheating, because I’ve seen the movie at least twice. The first time I watched it I was on an airplane, and I didn’t know anything about the story. So, I cried on an airplane. Anyway, apparently there’s a group in Abu Dhabi that gets together to watch musicals. And they just happened to be watching the 25th anniversary performance of Les Miserables. My mom and I went to that.

I was a little bit disappointed that it was more like a dramatic concert and not a real theater performance, but it was still good. As it happens, I’ve listened to the act 2 songs way more than the act 1 songs. So watching it all together again and recognizing the musical motifs and what they’re linked to later was both fascinating and heartbreaking.

20. Chicago (movie)

Years ago, I almost watched this movie with my grandma. We got as far as the girl getting back to her room with the guy before my grandma turned it off, because she said it was too inappropriate for me. I watched it while helping my little brother put together a Ninjago Lego kit, so now this movie is forever going to be linked in my mind to my grandma and Lego ninjas. There are worse things.

21. Bye Bye Birdie (movie)

I actually…wasn’t terribly impressed with this movie? Maybe it’s just the movie version. It wasn’t bad. Some of the songs were really fun. I don’t know that I could put a finger on what I didn’t like. But, eh.

22. Chess (concert)

I almost didn’t watch this one, but I’m glad I did. The music sort of confused me sometimes, but some of the songs were really, really good, and the characters were also engaging and fun. My mom didn’t watch it, but she liked the music she heard, so that’s another bonus.

23. Assassins (theater)

Apparently Neil Patrick Harris was in this? That’s not the version I watched. But this was a very entertaining musical, and I learned some things! I’ve listened to the soundtrack a few times through since, just because it’s fun. And now I guess I get why that one person on tumblr really likes Guiteau.

24. Guys and Dolls (movie)

I think this was probably my least favorite of the entire month. The best parts were when the lady that wanted to marry the guy did her performances at the club.

25. West Side Story (movie)

This movie was like, 60% dancing, 20% singing, 20% other things. It was kinda eh, honestly. But now I want a gang to snap with me. (Also, did they pick a white actress to talk in an accent to play Maria? ???? Why)

26. Bring it On (soundtrack)

I couldn’t actually listen to the whole soundtrack, because youtube doesn’t want the UAE to enjoy cheerleading musicals, apparently. I persevered for the sake of Lin-Manuel Miranda. And the music I did get to hear was very good. Now, whenever I listen to Right Hand Man, I always hear “MOVE” instead of “BOOM.”

27. Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (theater)

? ????? What did I watch?? I’m still not sure what I watched.

I liked the corrupt bargaining song though.

28. Into the Woods (theater)

I saw the movie when it first came out, but the theater version of this was really entertaining. I don’t know that I could pick between the two. I definitely think it was worth watching the theater version. There are some fun things with theater that you just can’t do in a movie. (Unless you’re Deadpool, I guess.) (But really, the thing with the princes with their new princesses was hilarious.)

29. Wicked (theater)

I’ve listened to the soundtrack, but I didn’t really pay much attention to the words. So there was a lot in this I wasn’t expecting. It was good, though! It’s a really good musical.  I hope I can go to see it someday.